Last 5 years saw slowdown in science and technology: Former ISRO chief

NAGPUR: Former chief of the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO), Madhavan Nair has stated that the sluggishness of the union government in the past five years paralysed science and technology development at not just ISRO but entire scientific field in the country. "The previous government failed miserably in taking necessary policy decisions. The new government seems much focused, decisive, knows its targets and the route to achieve them," Nair told TOI on Saturday.
Nair was speaking on the sidelines of the first national convention of Vijnana Bharati (VIBHA), a NGO which is promoting Swadeshi Science Movement and trying to create awareness about contribution of Indian science to the world. The former ISRO chief said that he continues to harbour the dream of colonizing Moon and Mars. "But since Moon didn't have hospitable environment, Mars was a better place due to presence of both carbon-dioxide and water below its surface," he added.
Earlier, while inaugurating the two-day convention, Dr Jitendra Singh, the union minister of science (IC), Earth Sciences and PMO, stated that the government would be increasing allocations to science and technology (S&T) sector and has discussed this with the finance department. "The ministry has sought an increase of Rs12,000 crore. The ministry would also be initiating efforts to remove barriers for science and scientists and promote holistic science using all the inclusive policies," he said. He promised to fill all vacant posts of directors of national labs. He also informed about the process for an agreement with Tunisia for olive oil import.
India, Singh feels, lacks the logistics for good science even today. "But good science can still happen. It may not necessarily come from the scientists as even an uneducated person can make a contribution. Science, today, doesn't focus on societal benefits and hence needs a directional change," he said.
Suresh Soni, the VIBHA mentor, said though science has made lives of people comfortable yet it is quite abstract. "It hasn't changed the lives of poor, farmers etc. Unfortunately, the big science discoveries have not been converted into products. Awareness should be created among every Indian about the contributions of Indian science and scientists from times immemorial and VIBHA is exactly trying to do this. In today's scenario it is only Indian science which can unite the world," he said.
Madhavan Nair in his address called for more funds for S&T and suggested that the research is focused and done in 'mission mode'. Vijay Bhatkar, national president of Vijnana Bharati and the creator of India's first super computer, Param, stressed on the need for more humane science for the masses. VIBHA secretary general A Jayakumar said the present century belonged to India
. Former defence secretary Vijay Saraswat, VIBHA founder A Basu, vice-president Pramod Kumar were also present.
Dr Jitendra Singh later also visited the National Environment Engineering Research Institute (Neeri).